The outside of the chalice is plain, only the joint between the cup and the foot is decorated with a raised acanthus-leaf.

The inner surface is engraved with eight curved lines for equal hours, the hour scale numbered I to VIII from the bottom to the top and IIII to XII in reverse order.

A date scale, represented by the symbols for the zodiacal signs (in pairs Cancer / Gemini, Leo / Taurus, Virgo / Aries, Libra / Pisces, Scorpi / Aquarius, Sagittarius / Capricorn clockwise from the hour scale) compensates for the fact that the solar altitude changes during the year. Every pair of signs is divided to 10?. The edge of the cup has a single degree scale.

A vertical scale of solar altitudes runs from 0? to 65?, numbered by 5? and divided to 1?. The vertical spike acting as a gnomon situated at the centre of the cup is a replacement.

The name of the maker and the date 'BARTHOLOMEUS ABBAS ALDERPACENSIS FACIEBAT ANNO MDLIIII' are engraved in a cartouche on the inner surface.

Around the bottom of the inside of the cup is the inscription 'HOROLOGIVM IN CRATERE AD ELENA{TIO} [recte: elevatio] PO{lis} 48' indicate the latitude for which the dial serves.

Bartholomaeus Madauer (abbot of Aldersbach 1552-77, died 1579) also signed a similar silver-gilt sundial (undated) which is now lost, but was kept in the Kunstkammer in Munich in 1599.